In an attempt to access a broken water line, Mike Giard, 16, removes boards from a wood deck that washed up onto his front yard during Hurricane Milton at New Point Comfort in Englewood, Florida on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Al Diaz / Miami Herald Staff [email protected]

Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, Florida the National Hurricane Center said.  Milton was a Category 5 hurricane late Tuesday but was downgraded to a Category 3 Wednesday afternoon after spending most of the day as a Category 4.

Milton barreled ashore at 8:30 p.m. in Siesta Key just south of Tampa Bay as a Category 3 storm, as millions in the state sought refuge